FoodWorks – Community Press Releases, Media Releases - Our Community

Customers will get to step back in time when they have their groceries delivered in Thargomindah, Queensland, with the store's newest team member aged at a very young 82 years old.

Not to be outdone by those flashy new "cars" this 1926 Dodge Brothers Pick-up has a top speed of 30 miles an hour and is a conversation starter and head turner in town.

"We have been on the search for one for a while, and when we found this one near Sydney; we took a trailer down and got her," Phil Humphris, FoodWorks Thargomindah storeowner said.

With the pick-up only partly restored to its original glory, Phil completed the Dodge's loving restoration once it arrived in Thargomindah.

The automobile is a hit with locals who regularly offer advice on the service and maintenance of the old machine.

"I have had people even offer advice on how to change the tyres," laughs Phil.

Tourists are also excited about the store's new arrival with a tour coach driver pulling out snapshots on a recent visit to compare! Turns out the driver also had a 1927 Dodge Brothers Pick-up.

FoodWorks Thargomindah's customers will be at ease knowing that although the Dodge may be a little over the hill, she still has a lot of life in her, and with no traffic lights in town to slow her down the ice-cream will still be frozen when it arrives.

There was no snow falling, but the management and staff of FoodWorks Miles were in Christmas cheer mode for their most recent market day on the 27th June 2008.

The chosen theme, "Christmas in ‘almost' July", was a great success with staff donning Santa hats, Christmas shirts and Christmas tree ties. Gail decided to gain some extra padding to portray the big man himself!

Traditional festive treats were served and eggnog, the drink of choice. A Christmas tree and tinsel also helped decorate the store.

In the sprit of Christmas the store also helped raise $400 for the Local Cancer Committee and Hospital Auxiliary by donating the ingredients for their coffee stall and sausage sizzle.

"Customers were able to purchase coffee or a sausage for a gold coin donation," FoodWorks Miles storeowner Thuy Nguyen said.

"We donate the ingredients and goods to the committees and invite them to be at our market days."

The Cancer Committee and Hospital Auxiliary are regulars at every market day at FoodWorks Miles with the store continually contributing ingredients and goods to the cause.

"We also invited local stall holders to display their wares on the day," said Thuy "through a small community market outside the front of the store."

It was also a family affair for management with Thuy's son Jaguar having a day off from day care to be Santa's little helper and hand out lollies to the customers.

Jimboomba and its surrounds were represented well at the recent Forde Queensland Day Awards.

Veresdale Scrub man Albert Pryer and North Maclean woman Ada Banks were named Forde Community Spirit Queenslanders of the Year at the ceremony hosted by Member for Forde Brett Raguse.

Mr Raguse said the inaugural Forde Queensland Day Awards ceremony marked the first of many annual events that would recognise outstanding members of the community like Mr Pryer and Ms Banks.

"The Community Spirit Award encompasses so much of what people do in the Forde community," Mr Raguse said.

He said Mr Pryer and Ms Banks were well deserving of their awards in the light of their extensive contributions to the area.

"Albert fights for the causes in the community. Albert has made significant contributions through his role as president of (Beaudesert) Rotary."

Mr Pryer has long contributed to the community.

In the past four months alone, Mr Pryer, who is the owner of FoodWorks Beaudesert helped to raise $14,000 for breast cancer to be presented to a woman who will complete a horse back ride from Western Australia to Beaudesert on June 18.

As a Country and Horse Festival committee member Mr Pryer was also integral in bringing this year's festival to fruition.

Mr Pryer's community spirit extends internationally as well, having hosted several exchange students, helped fund the building and running of a school in Cambodia and helping raise funds for a hospital in South Africa which treats young women who suffer physically after childbirth.

Mr Pryer said he regularly asked himself why he did the work that he did for Rotary as it often led to him working seven days a week.

"It's something you do or you don't. You're either community minded or you're not," he said.

Mr Pryer said he and his wife decided to give back to the community that supported them and unexpectedly got even more back in return.

"You get out of it what you put in," he said.

Ms Banks has worked tirelessly for the past 12 years since the death of her son to cancer, to help bring cancer support services to the Jimboomba area. During that time, Ms Banks has raised more than $250,000 for Cancer Council Queensland through her involvement in various fundraisers.

Albert Pryer from FoodWorks Beaudesert was named as Community Spirit Queenslander of the year

Children will take their furry best friends to a teddy bear's picnic on Thursday, June 12 as part of the Beaudesert Country and Horse Festival.

Festival president Nancy Moss said the annual event was always popular with local children.

"There are a lot of fun things and giveaways," she said.

The afternoon will include a range of bear themed prizes including best dressed bear, oldest bear and most modern dressed bear.

"Because our theme this year is now and then, we'll be looking at old and modern bears," Mrs Moss said.

"The kids just show up with teddies and if they don't have teddies they are still welcome.

"Maybe teddy isn't allowed out."

Mrs Moss said this year's picnic entertainment would be Crystal the fairy.

"It is sponsored by FoodWorks Beaudesert," she said.

"If we didn't get sponsors we wouldn't be able to do all these events so we're very grateful."

The Beaudesert Country and Horse Festival Teddy Bear's Picnic will be held at the Drynan Pavilion at Beaudesert Showgrounds on June 12 from 3.30 to 5pm.

*Extracted from Jimboomba Times 4/6/2008

The Ravenshoe community in Queensland has rallied around in support of a brilliant fund raising initiative by the local kindy.

President Kerry Beaton said the local kindergarten and playgroup urgently needed $5000 to keep their doors open and their resources up to safety standard.

Local FoodWorks Ravenshoe managers Kate Lewis and Sharlene Vaughan have stepped up to the plate.

They are donating one cent to the kindy for every $1 spent at FoodWorks Ravenshoe.

The fundraiser started two weeks ago and both the kindy and FoodWorks Ravenshoe say they are on to a winner.

The target is $5000 for the Ravenshoe Kindergarten and playgroup to buy bats, balls, trikes, bikes, sandpit gear, puzzles, games, books, dress ups, home corner equipment and a fridge for the students' lunches.

Kerry said customers only had to put their name and suburb on the back of their docket (eg John Smith, Millstream) and place it in the store box.

"No docket equals no money for the kindy," Kerry said.

FoodWorks Ravenshoe would print an extra docket for customers if they wanted one for their records.

Each docket would also go into a draw for a $50 fuel voucher, donated by Ampol Ravenshoe in support of the kindy fundraiser.

President Kerry said the kindy had served the local Ravenshoe community for more than 20 years and about 30 families used the kindergarten pre-prep program and playgroup.

Playgroup was on Mondays 9am-midday and kindergarten Thursdays and Fridays 9am-2.30pm, she said.

*Extracted from Atherton Tablelander 17/6/2008

FoodWorks Canungra once again leads the way in community spirit by contributing towards Canungra's latest community project. The brainchild of Ben Hogan of BEH Electrical, what started as an idea has now come to fruition with the Showgrounds now having spotlights enabling The Loggers to train & play at night as well as other obvious benefits such as lighting for The Canungra Show and other events held at the grounds. The biggest sponsors by far were Tony and Anne of FoodWorks Canungra with a massive donation of $8,000 towards the project.

Tony said, "I'm a massive fan of rugby league and when Ben Hogan (BEH Electrical) approached me about the project; you just can't say no. I want to see rugby league not only survive but prosper in this community."

FoodWorks Canungra has been part of the Canungra community for just over a year and in that time their level of community spirit and involvement has been nothing short of incredible. This was evident from fruit trays to local clubs, school bursaries, event sponsorships and a close community relationship with a majority of sporting clubs and non profit organisations. As a result, over $30,000 was sponsored and donated to many worthy community events and organisations in the past year.

Tony added, "A big thank you to those who have supported FoodWorks Canungra in the past year, without you we wouldn't be in business. We are very happy and proud to be a part of this town and especially very humbled to have great support and feedback from the local community."

With a hunger for continuous improvement, FoodWorks Canungra aims to lift their game even higher this year with increased level of service and a more tailored product range with competitive pricing.

Other major sponsors for the lights project include Australian Lawn Concepts $1,000, Steve Geiger $1,000, Wayne Reiser $1,000, G&R McCabe Painters $1,000, D&R Roberts Earthmoving $1,000, Eastwing Constructions $1,000 and Canungra Auto Clinic $1,000.

In a huge group effort operation there are plenty of people to thank including Stewart Young Crane Hire, Falcon Electrical and a big thank you to BEH Electrical & staff who did all the electrical work. Helpers included Brian Maginnis, Lisle Rowe, Derek Finch, Phil Sutherland, Ben Hogan, Nick Finch, Rion Pearce, Luke Corcoran, Wayne Reiser, Steve Geiger and Glen Mahony. Ben Hogan said that the main 3 workers were Corco, Hoges & Glen (his apprentice). DJ Hendren brought them all lunch and El Hogan took the photos. The Canungra Loggers have through hard work, raffles, and in club fundraisers raised $5,000 which will also be donated to the Lights for the Show Grounds. The Loggers also got a Grant from the Beaudesert Shire Council (Now known as Scenic Rim Shire) for a sound system which Ben Hogan of BEH Electrical has installed. It will be available for use for all those that hire the grounds not just the Loggers so it can be used for the Show, Rodeo, Campdraft & Gymkhana and much more.

*Extracted from The Canungra Times April 2008

The crew at FoodWorks Kooralbyn and Tambo, South East Queensland are simply swimming in recently received awards! 

See the staff of FoodWorks Kooralbyn and Tambo, along with their Retail Development Partner Trevor Demnar, proudly displaying their many recent accolades including awards from FoodWorks' The EDGE Program 2007 and the national Paul's Community Store of the Year for South East Queensland 2007 (to FoodWorks Kooralbyn).

The Paul's South East Community Store award was won by our FoodWorks Killarney store last year, so it's great that we are keeping this prestigious award within the fold of the FoodWorks family. 

Robbie and Vicki Kurtz at Chinchilla AUR wanted to offer local shoppers an alternative to the larger chain of supermarkets.

From Monday, that change will be a reality when the store becomes known as FoodWorks Glasson Street.

Robbie said the rebranded store was all about a wider range of products and specials not commonly associated with smaller, corner stores.

"We just wanted to be a little more competitive and to stand out from the supermarkets down the street," he said.

"Since we started the change it's all been positive and once finished it's going to be a good thing for the town."

FoodWorks Glasson Street has in recent times grown into a one-stop shop for all grocery, fresh fruit and vegetable, and takeaway food needs.

With the evolving range of products, the business has also expanded its workforce, employing two new faces just this week.

"As we've grown our customers have been really supportive and I'm sure that's going to continue once the FoodWorks brand is in place," Robbie said.

* Extracted from Chinchilla News & Murilla Advertiser 25/10/2007

Move pays dividends for business

Steve and Leah Dyball have a throng of Clifton people heading east across the railway line.

After the Dyballs took over the historic Clifton Food Store in King Street three years ago and joined the FoodWorks Group, a growing demand for goods soon reached a point where changes had to be made.

John Logan and Son first opened the shop in July 1885, so a decision to move from the original site was never going to be easy.

Now with new premises more than four times the size of the original, Mr Dyball is confident it was a change for the best. "We couldn't fit a 20 cent coin into a 10 cent slot any longer," he said.

"We built the new FoodWorks Clifton and after opening in late May we have had 100% positive feedback."

In a boost for Clifton's economy, the Dyballs now employ 35 staff.

"We've since put on another 10 to 15 local staff since the move," Mr Dyball said.

A full delicatessen is now available to the community with expanded fruit, vegetable, meat and takeaway food lines. As to what lay ahead for the vacant shop in King Street, Mr Dyball remained tight-lipped.

"We hope to have something up and running there in the next couple of months." he said.

Steve Dyball now employs 35 staff at the new FoodWorks Clifton. The store was opened in late May.

*Extracted from Toowoomba Chronicle 20/7/07